Matt Werle was named the third head coach in Grand Canyon men's volleyball program history on May 2, 2016. Werle served as the Lopes' interim head coach for the 2016 season, leading the Lopes to their best record in program history, with a 17-12 record including going 8-8 in MIVA play.
GCU started the 2016 season 5-0 and added three huge wins over nationally ranked opponents. The Lopes knocked off No. 8 Ball State, No. 13 Lewis, and No. 12 Loyola Chicago en route to their first 17-win season since 2013. Outside hitters Gerrard Lipscombe and Shalev Saada were named to the All-MIVA First Team at the conclusion of the season. Lipscombe led the Lopes with 356 kills and 36 aces, while finishing second with 145 digs. Saada finished second on the team with 271 kills and 33 aces for the season.
In addition to serving as the interim coach at Grand Canyon, Werle was also the head women's volleyball coach at Mesa Community College the last two years. He joined the Thunderbirds in 2014 following three seasons working with the GCU men's volleyball team. Werle served as a graduate assistant for the Lopes in 2012 and 2013, before being added as an assistant coach in 2014.
Werle played collegiate volleyball at Juniata College where he helped lead the Eagles to three Division III national titles. A four-year starting setter, Werle was a four-time All-American and the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III National Player of the Year in 2007.
A native of Meadville, Penn., Werle played two years with the junior national team and was Team USA's starting setter for the 2007 Junior World Championships. He trained one season with the men's national team in 2010.
A 2009 graduate of Juniata College, Werle earned a degree in business administration befor earning his masters in business administration with an emphasis in leadership from Grand Canyon in 2013.
Werle has also had success at the club coaching level as he led the top 18-year old club boys team, Arizona Fear Volleyball Club for four years and also assisted with 17UA and 18UA girls teams at Spiral Volleyball Club in Chandler, Ariz in 2014-15.